GANDALF
That wound will never fully heal. He will
carry it the rest of his life.

ELROND
And yet to have come so far still bearing
the Ring...the hobbit has shown
extraordinary resilience to its evil.

GANDALF
It is a burden he should never have to
had to bear. We can ask no more of Frodo.

ELROND
Gandalf, the enemy is moving. Sauron's
forces are massing in the east. His eye
is fixed on Rivendell. And Saruman, you
tell me, has betrayed us. Our list of
allies grows thin.

(CONTINUED)

69.
CONTINUED:

GANDALF
His treachery runs deeper than you know.
By foul craft, Saruman has crossed Orc
with Goblin Men...he is breeding an army
in the caverns of Isengard. An army that
can move in Sunlight and cover great
distance at speed. Saruman is coming for
the Ring.

Elrond turns and walks away...

ELROND
This evil cannot be concealed by the
power of the Elves...We do not have the
strength to fight both Mordor and
Isengard...Gandalf...the ring cannot stay
here.

Gandalf turns and looks out the window.

Sounds of arrivals...Gandalf watches as Boromir rides through
Rivendell gate, followed by Legolas and Gimli.

ELROND (V.O.) (CONT'D)
This peril belongs to all Middle earth.
They must decide how to end it. Not just
for themselves but for those who come
after. Elrond approaches Gandalf.

ELROND (CONT'D)
The time of the Elves is over. My people
are leaving these shores. Who will you
look to when we have gone? The dwarves?
They hide in their mountains seeking
riches. They care nothing for the
troubles of others.

GANDALF
It is in Men that we must place our hope.

ELROND
Men? Men are weak. The race of Men is
failing. The blood of Numenor is all but
spent, its pride and dignity forgotten.
It is because of men the Ring survives.

ELROND (V.O.) (CONT'D)
I let Isildur into the heart of Mount
Doom, where the ring was forged: the one
place it could be destroyed.

FLASH INSERT: ELROND AND ISILDUR STAND BEFORE THE FIRES OF

MT. DOOM.

ELROND
Cast it into the fire...destroy it!

CLOSE ON: ISILDUR...CAPTIVATED BY THE RING.

ISILDUR
No.

Isildur turns and walks away

ELROND
Isildur!!

INT. ENROND'S CHAMBER, RIVERDELL -- DAY

Elrond turns to Gandalf.

ELROND
It should have ended that day, but evil
was allowed to endure. Isildur kept the
Ring...and the line of Kings was broken.
There's no strength left in the world of
Men. They're scattered, divided,
leaderless.

(CONTINUED)

71.
CONTINUED:

GANDALF
There is one who could unite them, one
who could re claim the thrown of Gondor.